CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Week ending April 1, 2011

2010 Fire Medical incident summary report

The Fire Medical Department has provided the attached report on incidents responded to by the department in 2010. The report also contains a comparison of incident counts over the past four years. Due to a change in how the software classified some incidents, the numbers may vary significantly from 2007-2008, but the change provides a better classification in more recent years. The department also produced the attached breakdown of the property and contents losses for the structure fires in 2010, which totaled $1,057,932.

Early Retiree Reinsurance Program status

The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP) is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The program allows approved employers to request reimbursement on claims paid by the city for early retirees, their spouse and dependents, who are age 55 and older and not eligible for Medicare. The amount reimbursed is up to 80% of claims cost between $15,000 and $90,000. The city submitted its application in June 2010. The City of Lawrence was one of the first of 2,000 employers, nationwide, to be accepted into the program. To date, the City of Lawrence has received $33,970 from the ERRP. Another reimbursement request for $49,718 will be made early in the 2nd quarter. Reimbursement requests can only be made once per calendar quarter.

The City intends to use these funds in a combination of ways. This will include continuing to subsidize the single and family retiree healthcare premiums, as we have for many years, as well as offset increases in plan costs (claims, administrative fees, etc.) that are funded by the City.  Also, we have implemented an enhanced prescription program that gives members with chronic conditions access to a clinical pharmacist to help them understand and stay compliant with their medications. 

Parks and Recreation activities

• Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department’s Indoor Soccer (Futsal) leagues recently completed their seasons.  The leagues were open to children in kindergarten through 6th grade. There were 44 total teams and more than 340 participants. See attached report for more details and photos.
• The Lawrence Parks and Recreation/Lawrence Public Schools girls and boys junior high intramural basketball program also completed their seasons. Parks and Recreation began overseeing the program a few years ago on the request of the schools. The program began in mid-January and runs through mid-March and is open to both seventh grade girls and boys. There were 140 boys participating on 14 teams and 60 girls on 6 teams. 
• Parks and Recreation recently held its annual Dam Run. 124 people participated in the 12K & 5K and 1-mile fun walk. RunLawrence.com created a slide show of the run, which can be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngungilson/sets/72157626233594615/show/